Forgive me if this post is a bit rambling the ideas are still percolating... As I had mentioned last week in my post Searching For Your Swagger, it is difficult to find your footing after having a baby. As I have been going through this process I find myself trying to identify what it is in life that I truly enjoy doing. Eventually these boys who are SO dependent on me will become more and more independent.I am very lucky to have the opportunity to stay home with these guys in fact its the best experience of my life. I think this unsettled feeling for me may have started before I even had children. I liked my career enough, it paid the bills. But it was never something that I looked forward to. There must be something out there for me that doesn't feel like a JOB. Just an extension of me... right now that is being fulfilled by staying at home raising my children and making a home for my family. But this will not go on forever and I think there is more to me that I don't even know about. I very much feel that I rushed through high-school and college without much thought. It was about getting good grades, graduating, getting a good job, etc.... but then what? I also think that I was too immature at the time to put aside outside influences and focus on me.
So in an attempt to figure out what I should do, I started writing this blog. I figure if I just start writing, eventually what I truly love doing will come to the surface. This may explain the randomness of my topics! And thank you all for continuing to read when you never can tell what is coming next, neither do I!
How about you? Do you love what you do? How did you find it?
A wise woman once told me that if you want to know what you should be doing in your life - look back to your favourite "pretend" game as a child. Mine was Libary - cataloguing my books, pretending to check them out to my Pretty Ponies, reading them to my animals. So here I am - a Librarian and loving it. And that wise woman? She liked to play house - she has 3 cute little boys and makes us all green with envy with pictures of canned home-grown tomatoes..... :o) (Though one wonders what Adam should be doing now since his favourite game was Bad Bar....) All mothers get a little lost in those first few years - but I think you find your way out by doing just what you're doing - discharging your responsibilities and being as good a parent as you can be - while also looking around and making sure you spend some time on YOU (whatever that might be). I'll play firetruck for hours on end (argh) because my son loves it - but I'll also make sure I spend a few moments scrapbooking or reading a good book that same day so I don't become TOO selfless. It's important to be selfish every so often! Just my 2 cents...-Abigail
ReplyDeleteI struggle with the same thing. I just wish I could find something that I love to do, but I haven't found it yet. When I see people who love their careers I am incredibly jealous. That is such a gift.
ReplyDeleteLuckily, I have decided to stress less about it in my 30s. When it is time, it will come to me the way everything else seems to come at the right time.
It is also a big reason I started my blog. I wanted an outlet for something I really liked doing (cooking) and something that challenged me (writing). So far, I think it has helped me stay centered.
Off the point: Abby, I remember that Adam loved that Bad Bar game. I can't believe he convinced you all to play it - especially when it came to throwing the bar glasses and furniture. ;)
Abby: Totally agree! The big issue i have is finding the time for myself since with 3 there really just isn't the time. Or if there is I am totally exhausted. Also sadly this is not exactly profitable:) Do you know a way I could capitalize on this stay at home mom thing?
ReplyDeleteMarySue: HAHA we didn't have a choice! We would be playing house/ library only to have the "bad bar" start pummeling us with beads and pillows. good times:)
Good times indeed - nothing like trying to have some playtime and suddenly have a "drunk" wander into your home and start throwing the furniture. :o)
ReplyDeleteWell now I have TWO blogs I have to follow every day - I didn't know Mary Sue had one! LOVE the post on pickled beets - I love those too and should try it sometime. Someday - when I have time, and jars, and figure out that whole canning thing....
Making it profitable - that's the kicker isn't it? Advertising? Writing a cookbook? Charging a small fee for weekly newsletter with nifty tips? Kid of like the Our Kids newsletter (see www.our-kids.com).
I'll ponder it some more.... - Abigail
Sarah, I wish I knew how to magically make my blog a money-maker, but it isn't so easy. Recently, I had someone from an ad company say they wanted to put "healthcare" ads on my blog. My guess is that they want to put special spam-related healthcare ads - like penis enlargements. Probably not.
ReplyDeleteOne way to get more readers, which you probably know, is to post comments on other blogs. (See, I got Abby this way! (Just kidding! Thanks, Abby, for reading my blog. I bet your babies are so big now!)) Or try to join the blogher network. Or I think this site www.thepioneerwoman.com has a recipe portion called Tasty Kitchen where users can submit. It gets a lot of traffic and might send people back to your blog. I should post there but lose interest once I post on my own site.
I too have been going through the same dilema for a couple years. I love being home with my boys, but I sometimes feel like I need something that is just mine. I did start a home based children's party planning business, but it will probably always be a side project adn not something I would call a career. Sigh. Just have to keep on keeping on and life will unfold I suppose.
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